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Despite the normal political talks of the Olympic games, one thing is certain - the architecture of this year's Summer Games is remarkable.

Here's just a few of the amazing photos of the venues for this year's games in Beijing (some old, some new):

The Aquatic Center "Water Cube"


The Olympic Stadium "Bird's Nest"


The Indoor Stadium


The Shenyang Stadium


The Guangdong Stadium


The Peking University Gymnasium

Just going to ignore ursamajor's flamebait (we can all enjoy Roman architecture, in spite of other things), and say that the Shenyang Stadium and the Peking University Gymnasium are absolutely stunning. Not a fan of the "Bird's Nest", but it's still a remarkable piece of art.

I love the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics! I wait 4 years for it to roll around again,,, In my profile you will see one of my all time favorite photos from the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. I'd so love to be going to this one. They are a once in a lifetime experience like no other...
Personally, I love all of the structures. Some more than others, but all in all,,, I think they rock!

TheGuyNextDoor saidI love the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics! I wait 4 years for it to roll around again

I agree. The opening act, calling of the Olympics spirits and the comet in 2004, was awesome! I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

I can't wait...these Olympics are going to be spectacular, and I am sure the Chinese will shine.

I'm looking forward to them as well. China is somewhat known for theatrics and big shows. I'm hoping there are some cool martial arts in there as well. It is Chinese history after all.

They Olympics has lost all credibility. I'm surprised people still care about it. It's not about amateurs coming together for the love of sport, it's about professional athletes, sponsored either by corporations or countries. The things these athletes can do are amazing, but so is Cirque de Soleil.
As to the buildings, some of them are dynamic and beautiful, but they're just window-dressing. China is still a totalitarian nation. It is trying to portray itself as a modern, open country, instead of the brutal, repressive dictatorship it is.
I'd argue that it was a mistake to award the Olympics to China, but since the Olympics is only about money and there are no reins on what the Chinese government can spend, it's actually a perfect fit.

Guys, we've had enough threads debating the Olympics and China's hosting of them. Can we stick to the buildings?

blink777 saidGuys, we've had enough threads debating the Olympics and China's hosting of them. Can we stick to the buildings?

OK. The aquatics center is a one-liner...it looks like soap bubbles. That's pretty shallow.
The "bird's nest" is an interesting sculpture surrounding an ordinary stadium, but I like architecture to be about more than just being pretty.
Some of the buildings look pretty spectacular, but I don't think you can consider buildings just as precious objects with no context. The Chinese have isolated all of the Olympic buildings in a privileged park that is separate from Beijing. This serves to isolate all the foreign press, athletes and spectators from Beijing and the Chinese people.
You see, you can't separate architecture from politics. Buildings do not exist except as part of a larger physical, cultural and political context.

The Olympics are always a great reason for awesome architecture. Beijing is no exception.

The Olympic stadium is a truly stunning and breathtaking piece of architecture. If you read about the theory behind it, you'll be amazed at what the designers were able to accomplish. Also keep in mind this building is going to be "recycled" into a shopping center when the games are over.

Regardless of what people may think about China, their architecture for the games is dramatic and meaningful. I can't really say the same about what we did at the Atlanta Olympics. Yes, Centennial Olympic Park is great, but none of the buildings were very meaningful, dramatic or awe-inspiring.

Both the stadium and the aquatic center are engineering marvels - they look spectacular. Are you're right, it's hard pressed to say the same about any other host or even future hosts - London or Chicago's stadium isn't as impressive as Beijing's.

I would agree...The architecture for the games is unmatched. The Aquatic Center and Shenyang Stadium are marvels at both architecture and engineering. I was lucky enough to hear a lecture by one of the design teams working on the Olympic stadiums, and the ingenuity that went into these complexes was amazing.

While Chicago may have created the skyscraper, Shanghai and Hong Kong have both redefined those terms...stretching the limits with amazing pieces of work. I would love to visit China, not only for the modern architecture, but for the other rich architectural and cultural history.

chicago_barry saidThey Olympics has lost all credibility.

I agree with the chicago barry about the Olympics credibility but I can not agree with him on his later comments about the architecture. It seems that most of the buildings are going to be for public use afterwards and even the Olympic village is going to be used for public housing after the games. So, how is that separating the games from the Chinese people, who, btw, have bought many of the tickets.

The birds nest looks like a tribute to the collapsed WTC buildings. IOW, it looks like shit.

ANFJock21 said
While Chicago may have created the skyscraper, Shanghai and Hong Kong have both redefined those terms...stretching the limits with amazing pieces of work. I would love to visit China, not only for the modern architecture, but for the other rich architectural and cultural history.

But, the great buildings of Shanghai and Hong Kong are being designed by American and European architects. The Chinese haven't redefined anything, yet.

McGay saidThe birds nest looks like a tribute to the collapsed WTC buildings. IOW, it looks like shit.

I must have a screw loose or be a loose screw,,, one of the two.... LOL
But, I actually like the Bird's Nest... There are many better pics of it out there on the net all lit up. Plus, I think it stands out from the rest of the Sculptured sites. I do have a pretty open taste pallet when it comes to Art though. I seem to be able to appreciate more and more the older I get... One mans Junk is another mans............Stadium...
Gramps...

I like everything except the nest. It's too chaotic for my aesthetic.

In every Olypics the Host City pushes the limits as tehy did in Munich with the Tenting of the Stadium, Montreal with the Expo stadium with retractable roof, or the Main indoor venue in Rome (1960)

The Chinese have done the same and did it very well

What about this building?



And why is the pic of the Aquatic Center colored? It looks way better in blue light.



My favorites are the Guangdong and Shenyang Stadiums

this pics looks better

As magnificent as the architecture looks, it somewhat loses its fabulousness surrounded by all that smog. The air looks positively choke-inducing there, not sure I would want to be there, and I feel sad that the athletes have to breath that stuff.

The bird's nest looks very interesting and awe-inspiring UNTIL you realize, as Chicago Barry pointed out, that it is just a sculpture surrounding a normal stadium. I saw a documentary about the construction, and it is a sculpture surrounding a normal stadium. It was made of concrete and that took alot of planning and energy, but they could have saved themselves the trouble and made the nest "sculpture" from plastic saving time and money.

Sedative saidWhat about this building?



And why is the pic of the Aquatic Center colored? It looks way better in blue light.



My favorites are the Guangdong and Shenyang Stadiums

I don't know what to think of the new CCTV building. It's very cool, that's for sure. I like buildings that have holes in them.

I agree you point. People here are so political charged and they should look at themselves and their own problems and government before attacking others.

I feel sorry for some of the athletes who cancelled the competition in Beijing Olympics because the media's false report about the air quality in Beijing. There was no one wearing mask during the Beijing Olympics. In fact, the air quality was better than LA. Beijing government is keeping the strict measurements to control the air quality after the Olympics. Did you hear anyone complain about the air quality during the Beijing Olympics? How come no one mention or praise for the strict measurements the Chinese government put to ensure that good air quality to protect the athletes? I guess, as usual, no news is good news when deal with China here.